Kings to stay in Sacramento at least one more year

Seattle‘s breakup with the NBA was relatively quick and extremely painful.

But the long breakup between Sacramento and NBA got a little longer Monday – the league is giving the city one more chance to prove its love.

Sacramento Major Kevin Johnson will get one more season to prove to NBA Commissioner David Stern and the Clay Bennett-led relocation committee that the city is serious about getting a new arena built downtown.

“The mayor of Sacramento has told the NBA relocation committee that he will have a plan for a new arena within a year,” Kings co-owner Joe Maloof told The Associated Press. “If not, the team will be relocated to another city.”

The franchise was close to moving to Anaheim to share the Honda Center with the NHL’s Ducks. Instead, Johnson’s coalition of corporate and political players will get its shot to do what the city has been incapable of for more than a decade.

“We spent 13 years and millions of dollars to try to get an arena built,” Maloof said. “We don’t have the answer. The mayor has the answers and we’re willing and able to listen. He’s got to have a plan. We never want to be untruthful to the fans of Sacramento. There is a sense of urgency, and that’s up to Mayor Johnson and his political team.”

If the arena plan isn’t ready soon, the team could move after next season and the relocation committee has said it support such a move.